With the announcement that British Columbians will engage in a mail in vote on the HST on June 24, 2011, both the Liberals and NDP will be shifting their referendum campaigns into high gear.

Columbia River Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald says he thinks moving the referendum up from its original date in the fall is a good move.

"Moving up the date is very important. There is a tremendous amount of uncertainty out there. A large number of people, including many I have talked to in Kimberley, want this issue settled."

Macdonald says there are really two issues, one being the anger over the way the tax was imposed, and the other being the tax itself.

The latter, he says, must be seen as what it is, a two billion dollar shift of taxes from industry to individuals.

"There's no question the BC Liberals have created a real mess here," he said.

Macdonald says that one of the likely arguments against removing the tax will be that it is already in place and was negotiated with the federal government.

"There are definite complications in going back to the old system," he said. "But there are huge complications with leaving it in place. It is something people will have to consider."

However, in travelling this riding, Macdonald says he is hearing that the vast majority want the HST gone, he says.

"Since we are a border region, especially the businesses who did not have to charge GST before are really noticing it," he said. "For me personally, I've been told by the people I represent that they want the HST to go."

Macdonald acknowledges however, that a lot of the anger against the HST dissipated with the retirement of Gordon Campbell, who was held to blame for it.